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राम
Leela Scene

The Road to Ayodhya Passes Like a Moment

Bala Kanda, Doha 206

Doha 206 · Movement 2 of 2

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Vishwamitra walks toward Kosala carrying many hopeful wishes. He imagines Ram's face, the royal meeting, the request, and the two princes travelling beside him toward the hermitage.

Absorbed in that anticipation, he scarcely feels the distance. Roads, fields, settlements, and changing light pass as though the whole journey were compressed into a moment by longing.

At the Sarayu he bathes, letting the sacred river prepare body and mind before entering the king's court. The sage who comes outwardly as a supplicant approaches inwardly as one about to receive the treasure of direct sight.

Hope shortens every mile until Vishwamitra rises from the Sarayu at Ayodhya's gate.

Read the passage from the Manas
After bathing in the Sarayu, Vishvamitra arrives at the king’s court with hopes of seeing the Lord.

AI-created devotional illustration · Doha 206

Vishvamitra quickjourney hopes Sarayu bath and courtarrival; selected afterbath arriving fullyclothed

Source reference and artistic choices

Gita Press code81 undated · PDF pages 207 · printed pages 205. Reader passage: bala-kanda-doha-207. Printed numbering may differ.

Source facts

  • Vishvamitra entertains MANYHOPES, quickjourney takinglittle time; bathes SARAYUwater then goes KINGCOURT. Selected afterbath arrival, no actual bathingbody required or princes travelling.
  • Not princes livingdharmadream or timeflowslikeSarayu. Primary exact verse source206 PDF207 printed205 matchingcurrent snapshot206; retain priornumberingdiscrepancies without automaticrenumbering.

Artistic choices

  • Approved C205/C204 Vishvamitra model warmdeepbrownangularface aquilinenose browneyes DARKBROWNGRAYbeard blackgrayHIGHmattedknot shoulderstrands creamdhoti DULLBURGUNDYshawl woodbeads unmarkedforehead about60artistage. Distinct whiteVasishta Narada and othermunis.
  • One standingupperwaistsage DRYFULLYCLOTHED atpalacecourtthreshold twoownjoinedhands at chest openpurposefuleyes gentleclosedmouthhopefulsmile. Kingoffright/princesabsent selectedarrival beforegettingthem, imagined courtarchcolumnflowerbough andgardenriver glimpse; clothesposeexactagearchitecture artistic unverified.
  • E02 rendition adds finegoldtrim along Burgundyshawl edge, an artistic style detail not historicalmonasticcloth/provenance claim; basic modelclothcolors unchanged.

An imaginative interpretation, not a historical portrait or documentary evidence.

बहुबिधि करत मनोरथ जात लागि नहिं बार। करि मज्जन सरऊ जल गए भूप दरबार।।206।।

Making many hopeful wishes along the way, the journey seemed to pass in no time at all. Having bathed in the waters of the Saryu (Sarayu), he went to the king's court.